Washing apparatus



May 7, 1940. E. s. STODDARD ET AL WASHING APPARATUS Filed Aug. 27, 1937 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Inventovs. Edgar 5. Stoddard, Philip K. Barman Their Attorney May 7, 1940.

E. S. STODPARD ET AL I vmsnme APPARATUS Filed Aug. 27, 1937 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inventors: Edgar S. Stoddard, 11 Philip K. Borman, by Tl'weiw- AttQTTIQgy 1940- E. s. STODDARD AL 2.200.127

WASHING APPARATUS Filed Aug. 27, 1937 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 5 F so ,es

" 's-iwr Ifiventors:

toddard, p K. Barman Their Attorney- EcLQar 5. 5

ph i l i by I y 7, 1940- v E. s. sToDDARD 5r AL 2,200,121

WASHING APPARATUS Filed Aug. 27, 19s? 4 Shets-Sheet 4 hfiventorsz- Edgar 5.5t0ddard, Philip NBQrman,

Their Attorneg- Patented May 7, 1940 UNITED STATES,

PATENT OFFICE man, C

hicago, 111., assignors to Edison General Electric Appliance Company, Inc., Chicago, 111., a corporation of New York Application August 27, 1937, Serial No. 161,259

I 11 Claims.

This invention relates to washing apparatus, more particularly to dishwashing apparatus, and it has for its'object the provision of an improved device of this character.

While not limited thereto, this invention is particularly useful in household dishwashing apparatus of the front-opening type.

This invention contemplates an improved control including means for locking the door closed when the apparatus is operating, and preventing operation of the apparatus when the door is open.

And in particular it contemplates the provision of these improvements in washing apparatus having a control such as described and claimed in the U. S. patent to L. A. Kempton, No. 2,142,- 902, dated January 13, 1939.

For a complete understanding of this invention, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 is a front elevation of dishwashing apparatus embodying this invention, parts being broken away and parts shown in section so as to illustrate certain details of construction; Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken through the line 22 of Fig.1 and looking in the direction of the arrows; Fig. 3 'is an enlarged view in elevation illustrating control apparatus for the washing device of Fig. 1; Figs.

4, 5 and 6 are fragmentary views in elevation illustrating a portion of the control apparatus of .Fig. 3 in its difierent operative conditions; Figs.

7 and 8 are fragmentary views in elevation illustrating other parts of the control apparatus of.

Fig. 3 in difi'erent operative conditions; Figs. 9, 10, 11 and 12 are fragmentary views in elevationillustrating certain door-locking mechanism arranged in accordance with this invention-and associated with the control apparatus of Figs. 2-8 inclusive; Figs. 13 and 14 are sectional views taken through the lines 13-13 and 14- respectively of Fig. 9 and looking in the direction of the arrows; Fig. 15 ls'an enlarged view of a portion of the latching mechanism associated with the door of the washing apparatus of Fig, 1; .Fig. 16 is a sectional view taken through lG-IS of Fig. 15 and looking in the direction of the arrows; and Fig. 17 is a diagrammatic view illustrating an impeller-driving motor used in the washing apparatus, and certain control apparatus therefor.

. Referring to the drawings, this invention has been shown in one form as applied to household dishwashing apparatus 01' the front-opening type. Referring more specifically to Fig. 1, this washing apparatus comprises a. casing or cabinet lll enclosing a suitable washing vat H. The

casing I0 is provided with a front opening 12 whereby access may be had to the vat. This opening is normally closed by a door or cover l3 hinged at its bottom to swing from a normally closed vertical position to a horizontal open position. Arranged within the vat is a suitable dishsupporting rack I 4 which is slidably mounted on suitable rails l5 provided on opposite sides of the vat so that when the front door I3 is open, the rackmay be moved forwardly for 10 loading and unloading. Arranged in the bottom of the vat below the rack is a suitable watercirculating impeller l6. The impeller 16 is driven by an electric motor ll supported below the bottom wall of the vat and connected to the impeller by means of a shaft 18 extending upwardly into the vat where it is connected with the impeller. The bottom wall of the vat, as shown, is inclined downwardly toward the center Where a drain opening I9 is provided. This opening is controlled by means of adrain valve 20. The drain valve 20 is opened and closed by means of an operating lever 2|. When the lever is in its position shown in Fig. 1, the drain valve is held in its open position. The lever 2| is held in this position by means of a cable 22 which is held under tension by means of a spring 23. The cable 22 is guided upwardly through the cabinet to an operating knob '24. The operating knob 24 operates a shaft 25 (Fig. 3) which is mounted in a U-shaped supporting bracket 26. Rigidly secured to the inner end of the shaft 25 is an operating lever 21. The upper end of cable 22 is secured to the lever as shown by winding it about a pin 28 secured to the lever and then attaching the free end of the cable to the stud 29. W'hen the lever is moved from its position shown in Fig.3 to its position shown in Fig. 8, it releases the cable to close the drain valve, and when returned it opens the drain valve. The bracket 26 'is secured to a control panel 29a which in turn is rigidly secured to the upper front portion of the cabinet 10.

Cleansing liquid, such as hot water, is supplied to the vat from a suitable conduit 30. This conduit is connected through a pair of valves 32 and 32a to a conduit 3|, which in turn is connected with the vat. The water enters the vat through a spray device (not shown) located in the top of the vat. The valve 32 is a manually operable valve and is normally in its open position; the control of the water to the vat in the normal operation being solely by the valve 32a. The valve 32a is of the self-closing type and is current due to a predetermined supply of water moved to its open position by means of a manually operable control knob 33.

The knob 33 is keyed to an operating shaft 34 mounted on a panel 35. The panel 35 is secured to the panel 29a by means of screw fastening means 36. The rear end of the shaft-33 is journaled in the panel 35 while its forward end is supported in a U-shaped bracket 31 secured to the panel by means of screw fastening means 310.. Mounted on the rear side of the panel 35 and rigidly secured to the inner end of the shaft 34 is a plate or lever 38. This lever is connected to the supply valve 32a by means of a rod 39 extending from the valve 32a upwardly to the control panel where it is connected at its upper end with one arm 40 of a bell crank that is mounted to rotate on a pin 3!. The second bell crank arm 32 is connected to a slide bar 63 which is supported at its remote end by means of a pin 46 entering a slot 35 provided for it in the bar. A pin 46 is provided on the lever 38 and the parts are so related that when the lever is moved in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Figs. 7 and 8, the pin engages the adjacent end of the slide to move it toward the left from its position of Fig. '1 to its position of Fig. 8. This operates to elevate the rod 38 and opens the supply valve 32a. When the plate 38 is moved in the opposite direction from its position of Fig. 8 to its position of- Fig. 7, it permits the inlet valve to close.

When the liquid supply valve 32a is moved to its open position, it is latched in this position by means of a latching lever 41 mounted on a pin 48. The latching member 41 carries on its right-hand portion, as viewed in Figs. 3 to 8, a latching member or tooth 41a. extending through an aperture 43 provided for it in the panel 35 and arranged to engage a detent or tooth 50 in the upper end of the lever 38 to hold the valve in its open position. The latch is biased to its latching position by means of a spring 50a.

The latching lever is moved to release the sup-' ply 'valve by means of an electromagnet 5|. The armature of the magnet carries a pin 5!!) which is extended through an aperture in the lever'so that when the excitation of the electromagnet has been increased to a predetermined value, the armature will move the lever to release the supply valve 32a.

The electromagnet is connected in the armain the vat, the electromagnet 5| will operate to release the supply valve to shut ofl' the water. The control member 33 operates a suitable switch 52 having a pair of fixed contacts 53 and 54 mounted on an electrically insulating block 55. Cooperating with the fixed contacts respectively and positioned in the space between them are a pair of movable switch arms 56 and 51. The lower ends of these switch arms are connected to a conducting plate 58. The switch arms are controlled by means of a cam 59 rigidly secured to the shaft 34, and formed of a suitable electrically insulating material. Also mounted on the shaft is a second controlling cam 60 that functicns both as a control cam and also as a posi-" tioning cam for the shaft 34.. The cam 30 is.

Fig.. 3, and also when in a position 45 removed therefrom in a clockwise direction. as shown in Fig. 4.

The electrical connections between the switch 52 and the motor l1 and the electromagnet 5| are shown diagrammatically in Fig. 11. As there shown, the motor I1 and magnet are energized from any suitable source of electrical supply 61. As also shown, the electromagnet is'connected across the contacts 53 and 54. g

The control apparatus which has thus far been described forms the subject matter of the abovementioned patent to L. A. Kempton; and operates in the following manner: When the control knob 33 is in its off position, the parts will be as shown in Figs. 3 and '1; and the supply valve 32a will be closed and the motor I1 and electromagnet 5| will be deenergized. When the control knob is moved from its off" position to its first controlling position shown in Fig. 4, 45 in a clockwise direction from the off position, the cam 59 is so positioned'that it closes the switch arms 56 and 51. This energizes the electric motor l1 and shorts the electromagnet. The motor l1 will therefore drive the impeller l6.

- The parts are locked in this position of Fig. 4

by the detent a seating in the depression 62. The control member will then be movedto a second controlling position 40 in a clockwise direction to the position shown in Figs. 6 and 8.

In this position, the inner contact 53 remains closed but the outercontact 54 will have been permitted to open. In this condition of the parts, the electromagnet 5| is connected in the arma-' ture circuit of the motor l1. Also the movement of the knob 33 to this position will have caused the inlet valve 32a to open where it is locked by the latching member 410.. Now assuming that the drain valve 20 has been closed previous to the operation of the controlling member to this controlling position, the motor will be operating and water will flow into the vat from the supply source. As the motor load builds up, its armature current also builds up until eventually the electromagnet, which is connected in the armature circuit, will attract its armature to release the supply valve, as previously described.

It ,will be observed that when the control member 33v is in the second controlling position.'

the detent 64a engages the cam surface 63 on the cam 60 so that when the latch releases the inlet valve and the shaft 34 and knob 33, the

detent moves these members back to the first knob 33 while in its 0 position and rapidly move it to its second controlling position there is the danger that the large inrush of starting current in the motor l1 would energize-the magnet 6| sufliciently to cause it to retract the armature, which operation would hold the latch in' its released position thereby preventing proper functioning of the washing apparatus. To obviate this, a third controlling position several de grees in advance of the second controlling position is provided. In this position, the parts occupy their positions shown in Fig. 51 As here shown, the cam 59 is so placed that the switch arms 56 and 51 are in the same positions that they have in the first controlling position of the knob 33, whereby the electromagnet is short circuited, while the motor is connected directly to the supply source. If, therefore, the control knob be moved directly to this position of Fig. 5, the motor I! will be energized and will start up, as before, and the large starting current will have not effect upon the electromagnet 5| because it is shorted out. When the knob 33 is released in its position of Fig. 5, it is moved automatically to its second controlling position of Fig- 6 by the detent 64a, and His held in this position by the latch 41a engaging the tooth 50 on the lever 38.

The supply valve 320. may be manually released before the automatic release of the electromagnet if it be desired to do so and for this purpose we prefer to use the valve releasing means described and claimed in the U. S. patent to E. S. Stoddard, No; 2,142,924, dated January 3, 1939. As there described, a releasing dog 69 is mounted on the inner end of the control shaft 34. The releasing dog 69 is rigidly secured to the shaft, whereas the plate 38 is keyed to the shaft so that it can rotate freely relatively to the shaft through a few degrees of movement; it will be observedv that the key slot 38a provided in theplate 38 is relatively elongated to provide for this limited freedom of movement. The plate 38, and dog' 69 are biased to move apart on their axis of rotation by means of'a tension spring 10 joining the two members, as shown. It will be noted that when the knob 33 is moved in a clockwise direction to open the supply valve 32a, as previously described, the plate 38 and dog 69 will move together as a unit, the dog leading the upper end of the plate 38 until the latch 41a engages the tooth 50 to lock it. Now if the knob 33 be reversed it will move the dog 69 independently of the member 38 to engage the latch and release it, whereupon mounted in a suitable supporting plate 12 hor-,

izontally positioned in the cabinet, as shown in 'Fig. 2, and having an elongated rectangular aperture 13 in it receiving the latch, as shown more clearly in Fig. 16. The upper end of the latch H is guided by means of a stud 14 having a reduced section 15 that is received in a slot 151:. provided for it in the upper end of the latch. The lower end of the latch is arranged to be received in a recess I6 provided for it in the upper edge of the door. Arranged within this recess is a U- shaped clip 11 secured to the door in any suitable fashion as by means of screws which thread into a flange of a plate 11a in the door behind the recess 16. The clip 11 is positioned to receive the lower end of thelatch when the latter is lowered so as to prevent opening of the door.

The latch H is moved vertically by means of an operating lever 18 having in general a T shape, as clearly shown in Figs. 9,-12. The lever is pivotally mounted on a stud 19 to move on an axis substantially at the intersection of the head and stem of the lever. The outer end of the right-hand end of the head, as viewed in Figs. 9-12, is pivotally connected to the latch H by means of a pin and slot connection 19a, the slot being relatively elongated, as shown, so as to per m'it the arm to swing on its arc while the latch moves vertically. The opposite extremity of the other arm of the head carries a roller 88; the extremity of the stem carries a similar roller 88a. The two-rollers 80 and 80a cooperate with a suitable cam 8|. The cam BI is keyedto the operating shaft 34.

The cam 8| is so arranged that when the operating knob 33 is in its off position and the supply valve 32a is closed and the motor I! is not operating, the cam occupies its position of Fig. 9, in which position the latch H will be elevated so that the door l3 may be moved freely between its open and closed positions.

However, when the control knob 33 is moved to its first controlling position of Fig. 4 to start the motor, the cam surface 8|a will engage the roller 88a and will move the lever I8 in a clockwise direction from its position of Fig. 9 to its position of Fig. 10. When the cam moves between these positions, the follower 80 at the extremity of the head merely follows the curved cam surface MD. This operation of the lever to Fig. 10 locks the door in its closed position by causing the lower end of the latch H to move into the U-shaped collar-TI.

The control knob 33 may be advanced from its first controlling position of Fig. 4 to its second controlling position of Fig. 6 and also to the advance position of Fig. 5 and returned without .moving the lever 18 from its locking position by reasonof the fact that when the cam 8! is thus moved with the knob between these positions, the follower 80 rides on its curved cam surface 811), while the follower 88a rides on the curved cam surface 8lc, neither of which surfaces'effects any movement of the associated followers tending to'move the lever 18. However, when the knob 33 is moved from its first controlling position of Fig. 4 to its off position of Fig. 3, the lift 8ld of the cam 8| engages the follower 80 to move .the lever 18 in a counter-clockwise direction from its locking position of Fig. 10 to its unlocking position of Fig. 9. This operation elevates the latch II to unlock the door. As the lever 18 moves in this counter-clockwise direction, the follower 80a merely rides on the cam surface 8| a to its position shown in Fig. 9.

Thus, when the control knob 33 is moved to its first controlling position of Fig. 4, the door l3'is locked closed, but the locking mechanism permits flexibility of movement of the control knob 33 between all of its controlling positions, and functions to unlock the door only when the control knob is returned to its off position of Fig. 3.

Whenthe latch II is in its released position of Fig. 9 it is automatically locked in this position when the door I3 is opened so as to prevent operation of the control knob 33 from its off position as 'long as the door is open. For this purpose, the plate 12 is provided with a tooth 82 (Fig. 16) in the front edge of the opening 13. Arranged within the latch II is. an opening 83 arranged to register with the tooth 82 when the latch is in its retracted position. The latch is biased forwardly of the washing apparatus to cause the opening to receive-the tooth by means of a compression spring 8t, but is held against such movement when the door. is closed by the inner iront wall of the recess 16 which engages the lower end of "the latch, as shown in Fig. 2. When the door is opened the spring causes the latch to move forwardly whereby the tooth is re- ,ceived in its opening in the latch. It will be observed that when this happens, movement of the lever '58 is prevented. When this lever is locked in this manner it is impossible to move the control knob 33 from the 01f position, be- I cause the cam surface tile is engaged by the roller 80a. ontheend of the stem of the lever 18 to securely lock the'cam against rotation.

. The latch H is automatically released from the locking tooth 82 when the door is closed by the engagement of the outer surface of the recess 16 with the latch to move it inwardly sufiiciently to clear the locking tooth 82.

1 While we have shown a particular embodiment of our invention it will be understood, of course,

that We do not wish to be limited thereto since many modifications may be made, and we, therefore, contemplate by the appended claims to cover any such modifications as fall within the truespirit and scope of our invention.

What we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. Washing apparatus comprising a vat, a

cover for closing said, vat, means for circulating liquid in the vat, a motor for driving said circulating means, a control member movable from an off position to a predetermined position to start said motor, a latch for locking said cover closed operated into its locking position with relation to the cover by said control member when it is moved to said predetermined poistion, and

moved to its releasing position when the control member is returned to the on position,'said latch having an opening therein, a locking tooth posi-' tioned opposite said latch and'registering with.

a controlling position to start said circulating means, a latch, means mounting said latch for longitudinal movement into and out of locking relation with said cover, a locking tooth positioned.

opposite said latch and arranged to enter an aperture provided for it in said latch when the latch is in its cover releasing position, means biasing said latch for movement in a direction to cause the opening to receive the tooth, thecoverwhen closed holding the latch awayirom said tooth, and an operable connection between said control member and said latch for moving the latch to its locking position when the 'cover is closed and the control member is moved from its E position to start said circulating means, and'so as to'lock the control member in its off position when the cover is open.

, 3. Washing apparatus comprising a yet, "a.

cover for closing said vat, means for circulating liquid in the vat, a control member controlling the operation of the circulating; means to efiect a washing action whenmoved from an ofl position to a predetermined controlling position, a latch, means mounting said latch for longitudinal movement into and out of locking relation with said cover, a locking tooth positioned opposite said latch and arranged to enter an aperture provided for it in said latch when the latch is in its cover releasing position, means biasing said latch for movement in a direction to cause the opening to receive the tooth, the cover when closed holding the latch away from said tooth, and an operable connection between said control member and said latch for moving the latch to its locking positionwhen the cover is closed. and the control member is moved from. its off position to start the washing action.

4. Washing apparatus comprising a vat, a door for closing said vat, a liquid supply valve for said vat, a latch, means mounting said latch for longitudinal movement into and out of locking relation with said door, a locking tooth positioned opposite said latch and arranged to enter an aperture provided for it in said latch whenthe latch is in its door releasing position, means biasing said latch for movement in a direction to cause 'the opening to receive the tooth, the door when closed holding the latch away from said tooth, a common control member for said latch and valve operating when moved from an oil? position to open the valve and to move the latch to its locking'position with relation to the door, and the latch when locked by said tooth preventing movement of the control member from the off position.

5. Washing apparatus comprising a vat, a cover for closing said vat, a liquid supply valve for said vat, means for circulating liquid in the'vat, a motor for driving the circulating means, a control member connected to the supply valve and motormovable from an off position to start said motor and to open the valve,'a latch for locking said door closed, a cam operated by said control for closing said vat, means for circulating liquid in the vat, a control member controlling the operation of the circulating means to eflect a washing action when moved from an off position to a predetermined controlling position, 'a latch for locking said cover closed, a cam operated by the control member, a T-sliaped member, means mounting the member for movement about an axis substantially at the juncture of the head and stem 01 the member, means connecting one arm of ,the head to said latch and the other arm and stem carrying rollers engaged by the cam, the

cam engaging the rollers to pivot the T-member in one direction to movethe latch to its locking position when the control member is moved to effect said washing action and to pivot the T-' member in the opposite direction to move the latch to its cover releasing position when the con-' trol member is returnedto the off position.

7. Washing apparatus omprising a vat, a cover 1' 1 1 8 Said liquid simply valve for said aaoaiar vat, means for circulating liquid in the vat, a motor for driving the circulating'means, a con trol member for the supply valve and motor, op-

erating to start said motor when moved to a first controlling'position and to open the valve'when moved to another controlling position beyond the first position while the motor continues to op erate so that the liquid supplied into the vat while the valve is open is circulated by said liquid circulating means, a latch for locking said door closed, and an operating connection between the latch and control member arranged to move the latch to its locking position when the control member moves to said position so that the circulated liquid cannot escape 'from the vat.

8. Washing apparatus comprising a vat, a cover for closing said vat, a liquid supply valve for said vat, means for circulating liquid in the vat, a motor for driving the circulating means, a control member for the supply valve and motor operating to start said motor when moved to a controlling position and to open the valve when moved to another controlling position beyond the first position, a latch for locking said door closed, a cam operated by said control member, a member connected to said latch driven by said cam, the cam operating said member to move the latch into its locking position when the control member moves to the first position and holding said latch in said locking position when the control member moves to said second position to open the supply valve and until said member returns to and beyond said first position whereupon it acts on said member to move the latch to release the door.

9. Washing apparatus comprising a vat, a cover for closing said vat, a liquid supply valve for said vat, means for circulating liquid in the vat, a motor for driving the circulating means, a control member for the supply valve and motor opcrating to start said motor when moved to a controlling position and to open the valve whenmoved to another controlling position beyond the first position, a latch for locking said door closed, a cam operated by the control member, a T- shaped member, means mounting the member for movement about an axis substantially at the juncture of the head and stem of the member, means connecting one arm of the head to said latch and the other arm and stem carrying rollers engaged by the earn, the cam engaging the rollers to pivot the T-member in one direction to move the-latch to its locking position when the control member is moved to said first position, and rotating with reference .to the member without moving it when the control member is moved to the second controlling position and while returned to the first, and the cam upon continued movement of the control member back of the first operating the T-member to move the latch to its releasing position,

10. Dishwashing apparatus comprising a Washing vat-water circulating means in said vat, a motor for driidng said circulating means, a liquid supply valve for said vat, and the vat being provided with an opening providing for the insertion and removal ofdishes to be cleansed, a door for closing said opening, a latch for locking said door in its closed position, a common control member for said latch, liquid supply valve and motor movable to a first controlling position to energize said motor, and a cam operated by said control member arranged when the control member moves to the first controlling position to operate the latch to its locking position with relation to the door, and the control member movable toa second controlling position to open the liquid supplt valve, the cam permitting movement of the control member to the second controlling position and its return movement to the first controlling position without aifecting the position of the latch with relation to the door, but when the control member is moved to the. off controlling position, the cam engages the latch to move it to its releasing position. i

11. Washing apparatus comprising a vat, a cover for closing said vat, means for circulating liquid in the vat, a control member for said circulating means movable from an 01? position to a controlling position to start said circulating means, a latch, means mounting said latch for longitudinal movement into and out of lockingv relation with said cover, and also providing for transverse movement of said latch, a driving connection between said control member and said latch so that when the control member is moved from said 01f position to said controlling position to start said circulating means said latch is moved longitudinally to lock said door and when said control member is returned to said oiT position the latch is moved longitudinally to release said door, means coacting with said latch for looking it against longitudinal movement when it is in one position in its path of transverse movement to prevent operation of said control member from its offposition, means biasing said latch to said one position, and the cover when closed engaging the latch to hold it out of said position to free said control member for movement from said off position to start said circulating means.

EDGAR S. STODDARD. PHILIP K. BORMAN. 

